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How to find a church home

6/15/2018

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My husband and I just moved to a new town and we are searching for a new church. I've done this before so I know what I am looking for. But maybe this is your first move or first time looking for a church. This is how to find a church home:
  1. Friendliness. We have been to churches where not one person said hello to us. It was often a great disappointment since we may have liked the church if it weren't for the lack of greeting, which may be a reason for a second visit. It may be that the church did not have sufficient people that day to greet people. Or it was because the church didn't have a greeting ministry, which is not a good thing for a church because God's second command is love one another. Church is the best place to do that.
  2. Music. This is a personal preference really. I like my music in church to be comtemporary, but reverant and kind of loud. But you may want a more traditional music service with hymns. There are many kinds of churches and therefore many kinds of music inside. But getting back to our preference: we want to hear not only good music with a band including guitars and drums on stage but more than two songs during the worship time. Two songs is really not enough time to empty your mind of stress and whose turn it is to take the trash out and turn your thoughts to God and how awesome He is. I want to feel free to raise my hands when I praise God. In some churches, I don't feel comfortable doing that. And you may not do that so it is not as important to you. So you need to go to several places to find out what you like.
  3. Preaching. We've been to one church where the pastor almost put us to sleep. If you learn nothing during the sermon, it is not a place you can grow spiritually. And that is the purpose of going to church: the preaching and the people. The Bible says, continue “meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.” Mostly importantly, is getting to know the people of the church. I have met some of my best friends in churches I have attended in the past. But also, church is for instruction, as the verse says, so you can grow closer to God. He put us on this earth with other people so that we could love each other and help each other in many different ways.
  4. Helping others. Not only are you at a church to learn from others but to minister to those people. You may have a gift like teaching young children or teens, organizing events or taking a turn in the church nursery. And one day you will be mature spiritually and able to help someone through something you have been through. 
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I leave you with Paul's wish for the Philippians, and my wish for you: “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation, the right righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ, for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Phil. 1:11
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My newest devotional is called "Keep It Simple Christian" 
This devotional is for people who have just given their lives and hearts to God, renewing their commitment or even those desiring a closer walk with God. You may not be sure what that means. How should your life change? What do you need to know about God and the Bible that will help you live as a “good Christian?” How do you live for His Kingdom and not “in the world?” These are all questions that will be answered in this devotional.

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Accepting God's renewal

6/6/2018

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We have all heard ourselves referred to as dirty or scarlet because of our sins, but in Hebrews 10 it says Jesus' sacrifice on the cross allows us to approach God with clean hearts. And in the first chapter of Isaiah, God pleads with his people, He tells them to change their ways, turn away from evil, and do good; if they will be obedient and turn back to him, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow," that is after we are forgiven. That was all a preface to say that we all feel dirty sometimes because of something that we've done, today or something in our past. Whether you've been a Christian for a day, a year or twenty five years like I have, I hope you will read this post and try it. It may help you get rid of some sin and bring forgiveness.
I don't know about all of you but at the end of the day, the first sentence of my prayer at bedtime is to ask for forgiveness for whatever sins I've committed that day, those that I remember and those that I don't. It's a wonderful, peaceful end to the day, and along with praising Him for His blessings, makes my connection to God closer and a good end to the day.
But there was one day last week that helped to cleanse me from sin that I wanted to share with you. I've posted in earlier blogs that we are moving soon so my husband and I have been working hard to get rid of twenty years of things that have piled up during our marriage with 5 kids, giving some to Goodwill and moving some to the new place. (And neither me nor my husband are organized people so it's a bigger mess than we realized.) So I was taking a shower at the end of day to wash the dirt off. I stood under the water  and just imagined all of the sin of today and of my past flowing down the drain. Some of it was little chunks of white lies I don't even remember telling, a few scraps of yelling-at-the-kids, some cursing I've done after stubbing a toe or an angry rant. And the biggest one lately was being rude to my husband during the packing/moving. You should try it sometime. Use your imagination and make some visual manifestations of those sins that keep coming up. Then watch them flow off your body and down the drain, never to return again, just like your sins when they are forgiven by God. I am a visual person, it turns out and now I do it each time I take a shower. 
So not only do I feel clean of dirt but I feel the renewal that the Bible talks about in 2 Cor. 5:17 and Col. 3:10.


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    Steph is a wife and mother first, a writer and artist second.  See more at her About Me page . . .

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